Doug has over 40 years of experience in the financial service industry, working with insurance companies, credit unions, securities dealers, and a bank. He has owned several insurance agencies and developed wealth management divisions for BC credit unions. He is actively involved with non-profit organizations and is currently a member of the board for the Canadian Cancer Society, BCY division.

Served on the Board since: 2021

Mr. Shirra is a community-minded business executive with a strong commitment to the credit union system. From 1983-2017, he owned a successful management consulting firm and worked with many large-scale national and international clients. In 2015 he was awarded the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. More recently, in 2022, Mr. Shirra has completed his ACCUD Certification making him the next Interior Savings Accredited Credit Union Director.

Prior to moving to the Okanagan, he served on the Board of another large BC credit union, where he chaired their Investment & Lending Committee. Since 1988 he has been a director on several other industry and community boards.

Served on the Board since: 2020

Linda has a good understanding of cooperatives values and the credit union business model, operations and governance based on her background in the Canadian credit union system and cooperative sector.

She has extensive experience with the City of Vancouver as well as over 20 years in the credit union system as an executive responsible for Human Resources, marketing, operational consulting and member relations for BC and Ontario credit unions. Her governance experience spans credit unions, cooperatives, affiliated organizations as well as non-profits, including holding both board and committee chair positions.

Linda has completed formal governance training through the Institute of Corporate Directors. She has facilitated credit union governance education for Canadian Credit Unions and developed and facilitated cooperative and credit union governance education as an international development volunteer, primarily in Africa. 

Linda is a recipient of the BC Credit Union Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award and has been a frequent speaker locally, nationally and internationally through the World Council of Credit Unions.

Served on the Board since: 2019

Ms. Brinnen is the owner/operator of the Canine Heroes Kennel in Kelowna. She previously worked at Interior Savings as the Senior Governance Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the CEO & Board of Directors. As a governance specialist, Karri was a founding member of the BC Credit Union Governance Professionals Group as well as a past member of Governance Professionals of Canada. She has completed Levels A & B of the Credit Union Director Achievement Program and is a self-employed bookkeeper.

Served on the Board since: 2022

Christine is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 15 years in executive and senior level financial positions. She has significant experience in finance, strategic planning, corporate leadership, risk management, internal controls, human resource processes and information technology. She is a resident of New Westminster, with an interest in the community. She was on the board of the New Westminster Victims Assistance Association from 2009-2014 and is currently on the board of the New Westminster Police Department.

Christine is very familiar with Gulf & Fraser and the credit union system as she was a previous board member from 1992 to 2007. Her belief is that the credit union is a part of the community it serves. It is about its members and the friendly, professional staff who work hard to meet their needs.

Governance, oversight, and cooperative values are important to Christine.

Served on the Board since: 2016

Daniel Drexler is a community-minded professional with a well-rounded background in municipal government, economic development and information technology.

Daniel holds an Advanced Certificate in Local Government Administration from Capilano University and a Certificate in Local Government Service Delivery from the BC Board of Examiners. He is an expert in Microsoft systems, with experience as a Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist since 2000, and as a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA).

Daniel works for the City of Grand Forks as Corporate Officer & Manager of Information Technology where he manages information technology assets and is responsible for all legislative and corporate functions. His department is responsible for City communications and marketing and contributes to economic development projects, risk evaluation, and drafting bylaws and policies.

Daniel is also an entrepreneur, having owned and operated Drexler Computer Systems Ltd. for 11 years. His company provided technical services for client servers, networks, and computers as well as IT support and consulting for industrial, municipal, small and medium businesses, educational institutions, and community members.

An active volunteer in the Boundary region, Daniel served as a board member of Community Futures Boundary for five years—a non-profit which supports and leads economic development projects and helps to build a healthy economy in the Boundary region. Daniel was honoured as Volunteer of the Year by Community Futures Boundary in 2013.

Daniel also spent two years as a board member of the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce, and he served on the Grand Forks Credit Union Board for 7 years prior to the merger when he joined the Board of Gulf & Fraser.

Served on the Board since: 2023

Mr. Epp’s membership in Interior Savings goes back over 40 years. He has also been a member of our organization’s Board for 20+ years, including serving as the Chair from 1998 to April 2020. From 2013-2019 he served on the Board of Central 1 Credit Union, which represents all the Credit Unions in BC and most of the Credit Unions in Ontario. While at Central 1 he served as Chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee.

Mr. Epp has been a lawyer for 40 years, specializing in corporate and commercial law. He is now retired giving him more time to dedicate to Interior Savings.

Served on the Board since: 1995

Mr. Foot has been employed for over 20 years as a Sales Manager at Carrier Lumber in Prince George. He has a passion for the co-operative system and was a Board member of the Spruce Credit Union for over 10 years with the last two as the Board Chair. Reg is a graduate of the Credit Union Director Achievement (CUDA) program and holds a diploma in Marketing Management. He is also the owner/operator of a water ski school that has been in operation for over 30 years.

Served on the Board since: 2022

Nathan was born, raised, and has lived in Abbotsford his entire life. He and his wife, Maja, are the proud parents of two young children.

He has worked in the technology industry for 15 years. In that time, he has built a successful consultancy firm that has helped hundreds of businesses build strategy and cope with change around technology and digital transformation. This includes businesses and not-for-profits in the medical, legal, financial, education, agriculture, manufacturing, and various other sectors.

He is passionate about building sustainable organizations that provide a social good. He is proud to provide a healthy working environment for his employees, striving to counter the high-stress and overworked culture typical of the technology industry. He is excited about cooperative values and the alternative vision they provide: to build a strong, healthy, and socially beneficial financial institution whose duty is first and foremost to its members.

Nathan proudly served on the board of the Aldergrove Credit Union and is honored and excited to continue serving as a director in the merged credit union. He looks forward to navigating the challenging and rapidly changing world with the strong, combined team and vision of Aldergrove Credit Union and Gulf & Fraser.

Served on the Board since: 2021

Tracey has been in the construction industry for over 30 years, starting in the field by swinging a hammer, and then moving on to various sectors as Production & Logistics Manager, Business Owner, and ultimately her current role as Project Manager with Quantum Properties.

Born and raised in Abbotsford/Mission, Tracey became a member of Matsqui Credit Union in 1976 and is a strong believer in the cooperative principals of the credit union. The importance of putting members first, and providing support to the communities where our members live, work and play are paramount to Tracey’s values.

Tracey has strong organizational and communication skills. She is looking forward to being a productive Director of Gulf & Fraser’s Board and is ready to roll up her sleeves and dig into the opportunities that will present themselves now and in the future.

Served on the Board since: 2021

Mr. Tisdale is a Chartered Professional Accountant with an extensive background in senior school district business administration. He also provides consulting services to school districts and works with the Ministry of Education.

Bruce has served on various provincial committees in areas such as labor relations, technology, shared services, and finance. He continues to serve as a mentor to administration professionals new to the education sector. He is currently employed as a Secretary Treasurer for a smaller school district in the Okanagan. He and his family have been involved with credit unions for more than fifty years.

Served on the Board since: 2018

Bill Wilby is an experienced credit union board director who is passionate about cooperative organizations and their potential to enhance the lives of members and communities.

Bill’s hometown is Alert Bay, but Bill and his wife Sandra have lived in the Grand Forks area for the last 40 years. Together they built a photography business and raised their two daughters while enjoying a rural lifestyle. Bill now operates an online bike sale business and participates with his daughter Ann’s organic market garden farm. Bill has served a combined twelve years as a credit union director on two credit unions, Grand Forks and Stabilization Central. For Grand Forks he served on all board committees and was the vice chair and the chair of the board. Bill has been the chair of credit union peer group three, the chair of the local Agricultural Society and volunteers for the local food co-op.

Bill views his service as a credit union director as a career and has participated in many training courses, meetings and system conferences. He is an Accredited Canadian Credit Union Director (ACCUD), a Certified Credit Union Director (CCD I & II) and holds many certificates related to governance and co-ops. Full details can be viewed here, billwilby.ca.

Bill feels strongly that the rapidly changing financial services industry provides opportunities for credit unions and especially for the regionally diverse Gulf & Fraser Credit Union. Bill is future focused, a student of technology and would like to contribute to the success of Gulf & Fraser building the credit union of the future.

Lee first became a member of Gulf & Fraser in the 1980s as a salmon and herring fisherman. Since fishing, Lee has enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the marine insurance industry as an employee of Pacific Coast Fishermen’s Mutual Marine Insurance Company – a membership-driven Mutual. Lee is a Chartered Insurance Professional and currently serves as General Manager of the company reporting to its Board of Directors.

Since joining the Gulf & Fraser Board in 2014, Lee has served on every committee of the Board and currently serves as Chair for the Investment & Lending Committee. Lee finds the role of Director exciting and rewarding. Working in the context of the rapid and fundamental changes facing credit unions and the greater financial institution community remains a highlight of the experience.

Lee continues a path of life-long learning to strengthen his contribution to the continued success of the credit union and holds the designation of Certified Credit Union Director.

Lee is enthusiastic about contributing to Gulf & Fraser’s goal of helping its members, staff, and community to power their possible.

Served on the Board since: 2014

Ms. Wolsey is an energy industry professional committed to the north. Born and raised in northeast BC, Tracey resides in the Fort St. John area with her husband and extended family after retiring from a long and productive career with Suncor Energy from 1998-2021. Her post secondary education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Calgary, a Master’s degree from the University of Northern British Columbia and a leadership program from Harvard. She has received several awards including Suncor President’s Operational Excellence Awards and a BC ‘Outstanding Resources Woman of Honor’ award.

Served on the Board since: 2023